Like it or not, it’s Hird’s time to present the Norm Smith

Former Essendon coach James Hird has accepted an invitation to present the Norm Smith Medal following this year’s AFL grand final. Unsurprisingly, the decision to have Hird represent the AFL on one of its biggest stages has been met with criticism.

“(It’s) obviously significant, we appreciate him accepting the offer, and we look forward to welcoming him back into the fold,” McLachlan said.

To say that the relationship between Hird and league head office had been frosty since the supplements saga was uncovered would be an understatement. Both sides spent much air time and dollars in legal fees at each other’s throats.

But AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed the move on Thursday; a move which is in line with recent years.

Since 2013, the AFL has had previous winners of the prestigious medal at the AFL Grand Final to award the newest member of their ranks.

While you are being self righteous, why don’t you ask or enquire how the drug scandal at the AFL’s love child, the Gold Coast Suns was covered up, by both ASADA and the AFL.

Also, ask the AFL why, when this happened at The Suns, they did not inform Essendon and allowed both Robinson and Dank to work at the EFC. The AFL knew both men supplied banned substances to players at the Gold Coast Suns. These are valid questions the AFL have never answered. Had the AFL done their job properly at the Gold Coast Suns, Dank and Robinson would not have been authorised to work at Essendon by the AFL and the supplement scandal WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. Essendon are the symptom of a much greater problem within the AFL.

Flawed argument. Pointing at GCS and saying “but they did it too!” does not absolve EFC for their actions.

As far as GCS are concerned, irrespective of any shady issues that possibly happened in the past, nothing from the club could be termed a success in any way and therefore any “benefits” they might have seen from those suggested practices should clearly be added to a long list of failures that club has produced. Does it mean they are innocent? We don’t know; arguably the facts aren’t there to prosecute and the effect a guilty verdict would have on history would be negligible compared to the EFC saga anyway.

my homework says that, if Essendon had done their due diligence they would probably never have hired this pair, or, if they had, it would have been under a strict set of guidelines, vetted by the club doctor, outlining an appropriate supplements scheme, with adequate monitoring processes to ensure that Dank didn’t stray beyond the guidelines. That was their responsibility, and they blew it big time. What happened at Essendon is 100% on Essendon.

Do you know what a question mark signifies? I asked questions. I did not make statements.
When you can provide accurate records and details an investigation need not take long. Its only when a club allegedly has no records (for a program the club continues to insist did no wrong, how was it going to be replicated in following seasons with ZERO records of what they did, how how they did it and at what doses?)

Not concerned at all. No evidence at all he was allowed to run around and do whatever he wanted to unsupervised, like he was at EFC.

Dank was an employee of the EFC, as such any materials produced while an employee are considered work product. Work product would be owned by the EFC. If Dank has records why didn’t the EFC sue Dank for their property to be returned? Is it because they don’t want it back? Afraid what it will say/show? They know it no longer exists?

From what I’ve heard, Dank was bad at record keeping but Geelong wasn’t. They kept him on a leash. Essendon let him loose to do whatever he wanted. They are now paying the price for not keeping their pets under control.

The Stephen Danks of the world would never eventuate if sports scientists were required to maintain a professional registration (such as APRHA for doctors, physios, dietitians etc) should they wish to work in a clinical capacity.

I’d be struck-off potentially (at the very minimum given a very stern warning) if I didn’t document one patient medical record correctly, let alone 34.

I’m a bit concerned about this, actually. I don’t have a lot of time for Hird the coach, but Hird the man has paid a high price for his sins, and if he’s hoping the medal presentation will offer some degree of redemption, I’m not sure he’s going to get it. I wouldn’t like to see this result in another downward spiral in his mental health. Personally, I think his friends and advisors should have counselled him against taking part but he’s made another decision. I hope it was the right one for him.

There are clearly a number of people who would have to b involved in such happenings at a club and while of course james hird as coach would of surely known about the specifics of the supplements program, it was unfair for the AFL not to show a lot more support for James. At the end of the day he made a mistake along with others involved and while wrong what took place even if it is all true the AFL could have handled it with a bit more dignity and respect instead of trying to make it into some type of war against James Hird as if he is some type of scumbag. Seriously though it’s all these bloody reporters and media heads trying to get the juicy story the best way, and the lowest way they know, the old act of a true two faced actual scumbag, trying to smear someone’s character because of their own pathetic agenda, trying to sell newspapers.

You just have to wonder at the mentality of the AFL trying to force the public to accept this. The best the AFL can hope for is the crowd to ignore Hird and cheer the Norm smith medalist while risking in front of a worldwide audience the crowd booing the presenter of the Norm smith medal. Just dumb boys club mentality.

If people boo and spoil it for the winner, then the blame lies with them. If your team has just won the flag, but you would rather boo someone than celebrate, then you would have to be a bit of a loser.

One of the biggest drug scandals in all sporting history lol.
Get a grip,it’s AFL,most people around the world wouldn’t even know our game exists let alone this happened. I follow sport and I can assure you scandals like these are pretty common. It’s actually a bit of an issue at the Olympics,an actual world wide event.
And ask the same question of the booers,why boo?Hird’s done his time,this things all over now and people need to move on.

mattyb, the experts said this was one of the biggest drugging issues there has ever been. Usually it is a single athlete – this was an entire club. Really such a pity the dog ate the records or we might actually know what the players were doped with.